Integrating Principles of Science, Practice and Policy in Health Disparities Research

Deadline extended to Monday, June 1, 2015 (11:59 pm EST).

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) will again host a course on the science of health disparities this summer. The course will take place on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, from August 3, 2015 to August 14, 2015.

This two-week intensive course will provide specialized instruction on the concepts, principles, methods, and applications of health disparities science, practice, and policy. It will also integrate principles and practice of community engagement. Nationally and internationally recognized experts in health disparities science will lead individual sessions.

Cost: The course is free, but admission is competitive and daily attendance is mandatory. Participants are responsible for transportation, room and board.

Application due date: The due date for application submission is Monday, June 1, 2015 (11:59 pm EST). Deadline extended

Application Information: The following comprises the application packet:

Completed online application must include:

· Relevant professional experience (250 word limit);

· Educational history including honors and awards (250 word limit);

· Essay describing interest in the course and how it will contribute to work/future career goals in the area of health disparities (350 word limit); and

· Letter of recommendation addressing in concrete and specific terms strengths, personal qualities, and relevance of course for career trajectory (350 word limit).

**Once the applicant submits the application, it will generate an automatic e-mail to the applicant’s reference, requesting a recommendation. An application is not complete until the reference submits the letter of recommendation.

This is to alert you of a recent NIH Notice regarding the new Biosketch format. All applications, including training grant and career development applications, are required to use the new format beginning with January 25, 2015 submissions. Please pass this along to your trainees and interested colleagues.

The Keystone Symposia Fellows Program seeks early career scientists from both underrepresented minority and well-represented backgrounds, to interact with our distinguished Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) during the scientific meeting planning process. It provides an opportunity for a “behind the scenes” look at an activity performed by established scientists that will invaluably inform the applicant’s future career and allows sharing with established scientists applicant views on the challenges faced by early career scientists and underrepresented scientists in particular.

Now in its fifth year, the program has demonstrated that those completing it benefit through high-quality, focused mentoring by recognized world-class scientists on our SAB, potential invitations to lecture at prestigious laboratories, potential requests to engage in collaborative research with established scientists, the opportunity to present a small piece of their research to the SAB, learning how small scientific meetings are planned, and engaging in in-depth discussions which address the challenges faced by underrepresented scientists.

To all individuals who might be eligible and interested – especially those from underrepresented minority backgrounds, postdoctoral fellows (at least 2 years into the program), Assistant Professors (no more than 4 years into their appointment) or industry equivalent scientists – This Program is a research anchored, diversity focused program.

Applicants must be …

U.S. citizens or permanent residents

Actively engaged in full-time laboratory research

They do not have to be members of designated visible ethnic minority populations, but they do have to document substantial in-depth experiences in face to face interaction with persons from minority populations in the U.S., which include –

Native American/Alaska Native,

Hispanic/Latino,

African American/Black, and

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders,

And and ensure that these experiences are verifiable. Further, the applicants are required to document an understanding of the specific and sometimes nuanced issues and challenges often faced by underrepresented minority (URM) scientists. By face-to-face interactions, we mean experience or activity other than teaching, which is in many cases largely a one-way communication. Applicants need to have a serious understanding of the issues in order to carry in-depth discussions in small group settings on challenges to enhancing participation in the life sciences by underrepresented scientists. Verifiable documentation of the qualifying experience is required as part of the application process, and applicants will be chosen in part, based on their demonstrated ability to inform on the issues facing underrepresented scientists.

The Keystone Symposia Fellows Program will begin accepting applications for the 2014 Class on June 1, 2013. The application and eligibility requirements may be found at Keystone Symposia Fellows Program, as well as photos and bios of the most recent class of Fellows. The application to the Fellows Program must be returned via U.S. postal mail and postmarked no later than 12:00PM (MST) on September 1, 2013. Applicants are urged to begin the application process early in the spring-summer to avoid problems with obtaining necessary documents by the September deadline.

The National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, is offering individual fellowships to highly qualified students and scientists who are seeking training that will enable them to engage in research relevant to the Human Genome Project. Training of scholars in examining the ethical, legal and social implications of human genome research is also encouraged, but is not available for pre-doctoral students.

Three types of fellowships are offered:

Postdoctoral fellowships (F32) for individuals who have received their doctoral degree within the last seven years. The standard application receipt dates are 8 April, 8 August, and 8 December. To review the program announcement and application, visit the NIH grants website at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-110.html.

Senior postdoctoral fellowships (F33) for individuals who received their doctoral degree more than seven years ago. The standard application receipt dates are 8 April, 8 August, and 8 December. To review the program announcement and application, visit the NIH grants website at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-111.html.

Pre-doctoral Minority fellowships (F31) for graduate students with disabilities and underrepresented minority graduate students to pursue a doctoral degree. The standard application receipt dates are 13 April, 13 August and 13 December. To review the program announcement and application, visit the NIH grants website at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-109.html.

Fellowship support is provided through the National Research Service Award. Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply.

For additional information about training and career development fellowship opportunities available through NHGRI, please visit the NHGRI website at http://www.genome.gov/10000950.

For information on Individual and Senior Postdoctoral Fellowships and Minority Pre-Doctoral Fellowships in Genomic Analysis and Technology, contact: